2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992) 1986-1992 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections.
Sponsored by:

gauge lights

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 01-03-08, 01:10 AM
  #1  
I

Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
 
Twins80s's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: at home
Posts: 1,063
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
gauge lights

So I jumped in my rx to go get dinner tonight. I turned on my headlights, and for a second my gauge lights came on then off. The little green lights for the turn signals still work, and the headlights were still on. So now at night I just kinda gauge my speed off gear/rpm from safc. My guess is the connection at the **** is loose. What are your guys thoughts?
Old 01-03-08, 02:07 AM
  #2  
OMG ITS A TRIANGLE!

 
FuStEr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 376
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
does the rest of the light come on when u turn on your headlight to full like outside and interior? if you dash is out and everything else, you might have blown a dome fuse.

Old 01-03-08, 02:08 AM
  #3  
OMG ITS A TRIANGLE!

 
FuStEr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 376
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
my dome fuse blow so at night my headlights and turn signal works, but everything else doesnt.
Old 01-03-08, 10:21 AM
  #4  
I

Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
 
Twins80s's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: at home
Posts: 1,063
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
ya all of the lights except for the ones that light up the tach, mph, exc. work. I will go check the fuse
Old 01-03-08, 11:12 AM
  #5  
I

Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
 
Twins80s's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: at home
Posts: 1,063
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Twins80s
ya all of the lights except for the ones that light up the tach, mph, exc. work. I will go check the fuse
edit:
so all of the exterior lights do come on, the little green lights for the turn signals come on. I checked the illum and room and both fuses were not blown. I didnt see one for the dome.
Old 01-03-08, 11:55 AM
  #6  
Moderator

iTrader: (1)
 
satch's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: tulsa,ok.
Posts: 11,738
Received 12 Likes on 11 Posts
Same thing happened to me and it was the light switch unfortunately.I had someone rewire it so when the headlights are turned on the dash lights come on but the dial which controls the intensity of the dash lights is over ridden and stays at one intensity(in this case the brightest).I don't know how specifically it was rewired but it can be done and it saves you from either purchasing a new or used light switch if you wanted to go that route.
Old 01-03-08, 09:40 PM
  #7  
I'm a boost creep...

 
NZConvertible's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Posts: 15,608
Likes: 0
Received 8 Likes on 8 Posts
Have you accidentally turned the instrument dimmer right down? If not it's probably the switch.

Satch's solution is a good one, basically the instrument lights are powered from the non-dimming taillight circuit. But I wouldn't do it without first transferring the taillight load to an external relay as described in this thread. The switch's internal relay is already prone to failure, so the extra load would not be good for it.
Old 01-03-08, 09:49 PM
  #8  
Dude......

iTrader: (1)
 
Valdez's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Manitoba
Posts: 444
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by satch
Same thing happened to me and it was the light switch unfortunately.I had someone rewire it so when the headlights are turned on the dash lights come on but the dial which controls the intensity of the dash lights is over ridden and stays at one intensity(in this case the brightest).I don't know how specifically it was rewired but it can be done and it saves you from either purchasing a new or used light switch if you wanted to go that route.
Agreed. Exact same thing happened to me years ago. I did the same trick, by-pass the switch by jumpering a hot wire to the wire that runs the dash lights. The harness to the switch may be burnt too. Mine wasn't but I've heard of others who's were. It's a cheap fix, but because the dash lights were always on I sometimes forgot to turn the headlights on. I eventually replaced mine. I got an extra one from my parts car now too. PM me if you are interested.
Old 01-04-08, 03:06 AM
  #9  
CC of L-Squared Shots

 
w0ppe's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Posts: 644
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Electricity in cars are a pain because if one connection is lost, it WILL find another to go around and it won't work; but will. Gauge clusters have lots of wires to go around. If one thing doesn't work, and another does, it might be because the other line is running down the first one, causing a short...
Old 01-04-08, 03:53 AM
  #10  
I'm a boost creep...

 
NZConvertible's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Posts: 15,608
Likes: 0
Received 8 Likes on 8 Posts
Originally Posted by w0ppe
Electricity in cars are a pain because if one connection is lost, it WILL find another to go around and it won't work; but will...


No. Just no...
Old 01-04-08, 11:39 AM
  #11  
I

Thread Starter
iTrader: (3)
 
Twins80s's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: at home
Posts: 1,063
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
i dont know guys I had lights last night when I went home and I didnt do anything. Atleast I have a safc to go off rpms when the lights go out again haha
Old 01-04-08, 11:55 AM
  #12  
Rotary Freak

iTrader: (1)
 
niburu's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Richmond, VA
Posts: 2,227
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
just double check that your tailights come on when the car is running
if the light switch is fried the signals, head light, and brake lights will all still work but the rear tail lights won't stay lit if the switch is fried, which is dangerous as hell at night
Old 01-04-08, 02:53 PM
  #13  
Rotarted

iTrader: (1)
 
kelton89's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: kent/auburn now spokane,washington
Posts: 92
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by niburu
just double check that your tailights come on when the car is running
if the light switch is fried the signals, head light, and brake lights will all still work but the rear tail lights won't stay lit if the switch is fried, which is dangerous as hell at night
thats why you do what i did make a switch for you tail lights and get a little clip light for your dash lights lol.. but thats just for now i will fix it later
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Snoopy FD
Build Threads
25
12-08-15 01:45 PM
RPOdesign
New Member RX-7 Technical
5
08-27-15 11:42 PM
gtcd
1st Generation Specific (1979-1985)
30
08-19-15 02:44 AM



Quick Reply: gauge lights



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:34 PM.